Heat Hazards in High-Temperature Tunnels: Influencing Factors, Disaster Forms, the Geogenetic Model and a Case Study of a Tunnel in Southwest China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study investigated the factors influencing geothermal fields in shallow crustal rock formations and provided practical countermeasures for addressing high-temperature thermal hazard during the various stages of tunnel construction. This paper is well structured and the findings of this research serve as a valuable reference for those investigating the mechanisms behind geothermal disasters in tunnel construction. Furthermore, they offer practical guidance to ensure the secure and efficient excavation and sustainable operation of tunnels in the challenging geological environments characterized by high geothermal temperatures. It is suggested to make some changes as follows:

(1) The explanation about technological constraints in managing the issue of high geotemperatures (line 62) in Introduction can be described in more detail.

(2) In Table 1, the thickness of stratum I is different from stratum Ⅱ. It is recommended to change the thickness to the same or add more cases to ensure the data are not disturbed by other factors.

(3) In Part 2.3, there is few discussion about the influence of the scale and intensity of local additional heat sources. It is recommended to add the analysis about it.

(4) There are some formatting errors in the article. For example, in the second of the three fundamental questions that the study aims to tackle in Introduction, the first letter of the first word “ what ” is not capitalized(line 83). The first letter of the first word “localized” is not capitalized in the third line of the first column in the Table 3 either. In Part 4.2, the word “fraction” is repeated once in line 347. In Part 5.1, the word “ex-pressed” should not be hyphenated in line 415. The word “re-spectively” should not be hyphenated in line 416 either. It is recommended to examine the paper more carefully.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Paper considers the problem of heat hazard in high-temperature tunnels. Paper is well-organized, the content is sound, and it can be recommended for publication. However, there is one point which should be highlighted in Conclusion: in the study you considers the case of the tunnel in southwest China; moreover, nearly all the sources you cite in the paper origins from China. So, please discuss, can the conclusions and recommendation of your study be applied for tunnels located in the other regions of the world, or not?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Manuscripts can be accepted.